9.29.2011 Teach-Ins in Public Spaces in Chicago Millennium park

9.29.2011

Teach-Ins in Public Spaces in Chicago Millennium park: 2 hr

·      -In the teach-ins, we made posters to support teacher. The teach-ins also address the social justice for teachers. Teachers did not get pay for after school hours such as correcting papers. We were assigned to correct writings for one other teacher. I was trying to talk to people in the public space to talk about teacher issue.

·     - As an international student, I wrote in Chinese and I got attention from a group of Chinese tourists. I asked them about what they think about teachers, their answers surprised me. 90% of the tourists have had family members working as teacher in their family, but none of them is teaching now. They are all doing business. This situation is a representation of current Chinese Social structure; there were a period of time that everyone in China wanted to be a teacher. The reason was that teachers have better social status in the society and it is the only way to have power.   

·      -We talked about the college education and there were only 5% of students graduated from colleges in Chicago.

·      The test of SAT focuses on English and Math that are the value standard and mainstream in the society. More science or academic excellent people seem to be required by the current society. For example, some kindergartens do not let kids play because they want to focus on academic study for the future.

·      -The reason the Teach-ins chose public space is they want to have public attention and support. Education is the most important thing in the society, but the major cast – teachers –  do not get enough respect from the society today. 

\
"